Wednesday, July 29, 2009

My devotion for today from MY UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST by Oswald Chambers

Reading: John 11:40

"Every time you venture out in the life of faith, you will find something in your common-sense circumstances that flatly contradicts your faith. Common sense is not faith, and faith is not common sense; they stand in the relation of the natural and the spiritual. Can you trust Jesus Christ where your common sense cannot trust Him? Can you venture heroically on Jesus Christ's statements when the facts of your common-sense life shout--'It's a lie?' On the mount it is easy to say--'Oh, yes, I believe God can do it'; but you have to come down into the demon-possessed valley and meet with facts that laugh ironically at the whole of your mount-of-transfiguration belief. Every time my programme of belief is clear to my own mind, I come across something that contradicts it. Let me say I believe God will supply all my need, and then let me run dry, with no outlook, and see whether I will go through the trial of faith, or whether I will sink back to something lower.

Faith must be tested, because it can be turned into a personal possession only though conflict. What is your faith up against just now? The test will either prove that your faith is right, or it will kill it. 'Blessed is he whosoever shall not be offended in Me.' The final thin is confidence in Jesus. Believe steadfastly on Him and all you come up against will develop your faith. There is continual testing in the life of faith, and the last great test is death. May God keep us in fighting trim! Faith is unutterable trust in God, trust which never dreams that He will not stand by us."

Friday, July 24, 2009

In 2000 I applied for a job as assistant librarian at Sehome High School. Eileen Andersen was the librarian at that time and I had made arrangements to come a visit the library before I had my interview with the district, just to make sure I would be a good fit for this position. I was thrilled when I walked in and saw large numbers of kids working together on projects, using computers AND books and talking and collaborating and....gasp....laughing. I'm not a fan of quiet libraries. I realize there needs to be a modicum of seriousness, but libraries should also be places where kids can work together. Then I had a good long chat with Eileen and I knew this was the place I wanted to be. Thankfully, the Lord agreed and I was offered the position. Eileen retired shortly after that, but in the short time we worked together we became close friends and we continue to get together as often as possible. One of my favorite things to do is to visit with her in her charming cottage by the sea on Samish Island. We can talk for hours and never run out of things to discuss and think about. And...we are the ultimate shopping buddies!

Saturday, July 18, 2009

It's been more than 20 years since I first met Leslie Honcoop at the church both our families were then attending. She and her husband, Randy, were one of the very first to embark on the popular trend of growing raspberries on a large scale. Theirfarm is located in north Whatcom county, and I mean REALLY north--if you run and jump you might just land on the opposite side of the US/Canadian border. Well, not really, but it is only about 5 miles south of it! Jessie and Leslie's 3 kids used to play "Little House On the Prairie" in her backyard for hours at a time. Well, at least Caitlin and Jess did, Dillon wasn't too keen about it!

Leslie and I rarely get to spend time together, our schedules are hard to overcome--I'm working in the fall, winter and spring and she is busy with harvest in the summer when I'm not working. But we try to get together at least twice a year and whenever we do, we slip easily into the camaraderie that bound us together initially. We laugh...a lot. Our mutual sarcastic senses of humor find good companions in each other!

Every year Leslie graciously invites me to come and pick as many raspberries as I can fit into my freezer. It's always a delight to drive out into the north county. I enjoy passing all the farms and relish the unobstructed view of Mt. Baker that accompanies me the whole way! And what a joy it is to walk fragrant rows of ripe raspberries with a dear friend, chatting the whole way. Leslie's bucket is always twice as full as mine--she's a two-handed picker, don'tcha know. I'm not nearly that coordinated.

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

How time flies when we're having fun! Jess just left on Amtrak this morning after spending 6 days with us. Where did the time go? She would have stayed longer, but duty calls; she'll be teaching summer school for migrant kids starting next Monday.

Twenty-six years ago, when I was pregnant with Jess, I made an appointment with a hairdresser -- my first "professional" haircut in over 10 years! My hair was very long, waist-length or thereabouts. My hairdresser, Kiarra, was a charming young woman who also happened to be pregnant with her first child. We instantly hit it off and I have been visiting Kiarra at either her home or the salon where she rents a station, ever since. She also cut Jess' hair all the years she lived here and Jess has held a special place in Kiarra's heart and prayers throughout the years. Kiarra had us over for lunch and we had wonderful time visiting her in her delightful cottage. I could move into her home tomorrow and be right at home!

Wally is in the midst of "busy season" at Premier and is working an average of 15 hours a day, and now it will be 6 days a week. Sadly, we didn't see much of him last week. Jess missed him a lot, but he did manage to get off early on Saturday so we spent some time at the beach and the Saturday market.And there was plenty of time to do what Jess and I love best!Godspeed, little one! We miss you already!